TIM HOWARD meets TYLER ADAMS: USMNT captain opens up on Copa America, healing a divided nation after Donald Trump's trial... and telling Gio Reyna to 'F*** off'

On the eve of Copa America, United States legend TIM HOWARD sat down with Bournemouth midfielder and current USMNT captain TYLER ADAMS. Daniel Matthews listened in. 

A small fleet of black cars and blue lights had begun to weave away from Manhattan Criminal Courthouse when, 200 miles south, Tyler Adams sat down to ponder his own judgment day and his own role in all this chaos.

The midfielder landed from vacation a couple of days before the end of Donald Trump's hush-money trial. He began chatting with United States legend Tim Howard just minutes after the former President was found guilty on all 34 counts.

Adams set up camp in Washington DC, where the tremors of Trump's conviction will reverberate until November and beyond. He has been preparing for Copa America, which takes place on American soil and kicks off a two-year countdown towards a home World Cup in 2026.

As captain of the USMNT, it is a period that will define his legacy. It could shape the future of soccer on these shores, too. 'It's so important,' Adams says. A daunting enough prospect without any added baggage. But the midfielder is clear: 'We have a bigger part to play.' Especially now.

'Our country is more divided than ever been - the political climate, protests, graduation walkouts,' Howard points out. 'Do you feel a sense of responsibility? That you're actually helping to bring the country together?' Adams pauses for a moment.

'I want to sit here and say that it is too big of a task,' he begins. 'It's not always easy to look at the social climate and be prideful about what's going on right now.' 

But? 'I do think it's a bright spot in a lot of people's days to turn on the TV, see a national team that's fighting for the crest, and think: "This is why we're American"... I do think we can be that.'

It's a heavy burden for a young team and a coach - Gregg Berhalter - who divided opinion even before a mixed build-up, which included a draw with Brazil and a 5-1 defeat by Colombia.

'I played with Gregg at a World Cup in 2006 - he's got strong, broad shoulders - that criticism doesn't faze him,' Howard says.

Adams, whom Berhalter made the youngest captain at the 2022 World Cup, sees another side to the manager - a side few do.

'The conversations I have with him off the pitch, nothing's about football. It's: "How is your son? How is your wife?"' the Bournemouth midfielder explains. 'When you have coaches that you can relate to… it goes a really long way.'

But it needs to translate into results and this summer Adams will be charged with orchestrating Berhalter's plans on to the pitch.

'When I'm healthy and playing consistently… I'm one of the best midfielders at what I do in the world,' Adams says.

He has developed into an impressive captain, too. The 25-year-old studied psychology at college and has taken some brutal lessons from the university of life – injury, upheaval, relegation. 

He has learned the value of telling teammates to 'F*** off' and that some topics aren't worth discussing. Such as the conviction of a former president. 'It's not something I would address. I'm a firm believer in people having their own beliefs,' Adams says. 'I'm not a politician, I don't need to persuade anyone.'

Adams leads by consensus – if one player objects to a particular initiative, it won't happen – and by blunt tools. Adams cites Gio Reyna. They grew up together in New York and when the winger is in a rut, there is a perception that everyone must walk on eggshells. 

'When I need to get into Gio, I tell him to f*** off,' Adams says. 'And he'll do the same to me.' That won't work with everyone. But Adams won't shy away from touchy subjects.

A few years ago, as the torch was being passed from Howard's generation to his, the midfielder noticed something strange about his teammates: 'I felt that a lot of guys didn't know what it was to play for the USA,' says Adams, who has African-American heritage but grew up in a white family. 

It showed in players' attitude and application. It jarred with the example set by Howard's team at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. 'The perfect example of what it was to be American,' Adams says. 'What stuck out the most to me (was) the relentlessness. If there's one trait that I could take from that team, it's that.'

Howard responds: 'You guys are far better and more talented than we were. But the staple of that team was that... those guys would play for that flag.'

It took them to the knockout stages in both South Africa and Brazil. Adams led his team to the last-16 in Qatar, too. The challenge at Copa America is to go even further.

'For me, (success) is getting past the quarter final,' Adams believes. Provided the USMNT qualify from a group including Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay, they are likely to face Colombia or Brazil again in the last eight. 

'We need to - in a pressure situation - win in a knockout environment,' Adams says. 'That's going to measure a lot of our success.' He cites the team's last-16 defeat by the Netherlands in Qatar. 'They handled business,' Adams admits. 'They were composed.' It finished 3-1.

Adams led the US to silverware in March, scoring a rocket in the CONCACAF Nations League final against Mexico.

But he managed only 120 Premier League minutes in his first season at Bournemouth after undergoing hamstring surgery and suffering from back spasms.

'The amazing thing about my mindset, and the way I go about the game is that I don't take for granted when I am playing,' Adams says. 'I don't have to prove anything to anybody but myself. I know what I'm capable of… without adversity in your career, you won't be anything.'

Howard urges Adams to keep backing himself. 'I don't think enough players do that in an honest way,' he says.

The 25-year-old saw enough of Andoni Iraola to understand why Bournemouth hired him and why he led the Cherries to 12th in his first season. 'I think at the beginning it was tough for people to understand because he's a minimalist,' Adams says. 'He doesn't go overboard - draining you with tactics, making things confusing. It's very simple and to the point.

'I think some people were searching for a little bit too much instruction and needed to be guided a little bit too much.' Iraola also sought to shift expectations beyond survival.

'Some people that were stable and comfortable in that environment said… what, is this guy crazy?'

Not Adams. He is targeting European football next season. He's been there before with RB Leipzig, only to leave for Leeds and taste relegation from the Premier League.

'It was a no brainer,' he says of moving to England. The truth, though? 'I honestly didn't really know what I was getting myself into.'

The history and size of Leeds came as a shock. Howard had a similarly rude awakening when he first faced Leeds following his move to Manchester United in 2003. 'I was a little bit naïve,' the former goalkeeper says. 'It's such an incredible football city.'

Adams agrees. 'When things are going really, it's amazing - the best thing ever. But when things aren't going well…' Leeds stayed up on the final day in 2022, only to fall through the trapdoor 12 months later.

'It's a team and a city built off hard work, it's blue-collar,' says Adams. 'I resonate with those fans unbelievably well - to this day. Whether they say they hate me or not, I couldn't care less.' Howard chuckles.

Adams missed the final 12 games of that season and it still stings. Because of relegation and because his good friend Weston McKennie became a lightning rod for fan frustration. Adams had a huge say in Leeds signing the midfielder. '(Then) I got injured it blew up in his face.'

Adams adds: It was incredibly hard for me... I feel in a way that I let him down.'

McKennie returned to Juventus and revived his career. Adams left Elland Road, too. 'I know that I wanted to continue to play in the Premier League,' he explains.

The midfielder was brought to England by Jesse Marsch for around $25million. They had first worked together at New York Red Bulls but the coach was sacked by Leeds in February 2023. Marsch has accused then-owner Andrea Radrizzani of losing his nerve. 

'We were actually in a good position when Jesse got fired,' Adams says. 'I thought that if we just continued the way that we were going, we would have stayed up.' 

Instead, Marsch was without a job until recently, when he took over Canada. Suddenly he and Adams are rivals. 'That will be the game that I want to win the most,' the 25-year-old says.

The two countries will be co-hosts come 2026, when soccer in North America could be catapulted to new heights. But change will only last with solid foundations and Adams is doing his bit there, too. 

In 2020, he established the Hudson Valley Hammers back home. He currently serves as technical director of the grassroots club, working closely with his mom and dad.

'I had parents that drove an hour and a half - each way - to bring me to Red Bulls, seven days a week. But a lot of people in my area aren't as fortunate,' he explains. This summer brings another chance to make a real difference.

'Whenever I get to captain the national team, it's the biggest honor,' Adams says.

'But I take that with a chip on my shoulder: I want to show everyone what I'm able to do, and the reason why I'm wearing the armband.'